Carbon Widow Sues Companies, Franklin Twp. Over Fatal Accident

March 25, 1986|by DEBBIE MOYER, The Morning Call

A Lehighton woman has claimed in a Carbon County lawsuit that the negligence of a Lebanon County construction company, a Lehighton R.6 engineering firm, and Franklin Township was the cause of the 1984 death of her husband.

Myron M. Dunbar was killed when the truck he was driving ran into a backhoe, which was parked along the northern side of Main Road in Franklin Township on March 15, 1984.

Dunbar's widow, Mary M., of 519 Coal St., has filed a suit in the Carbon prothonotary's office seeking more than $30,000 from each of the three defendants.

The suit claims that the township had hired the engineering firm of Spotts, Stevens and McCoy of Lehighton R.6 to design and construct improvements to the water line along Main Road. The suit also says the G.L. Marks Construction Co., Lebanon, was hired to do the construction work.

The three defendants failed to place signs, lights or barricades near the parked backhoe to prevent collisions and failed to adequately warn motorists of its presence, the suit contends.

The defendants also failed to inspect the site and provide adequate supervision, according to the suit.

Dunbar says that, in addition to herself, her husband is survived by three children - a son Kristopher, at home, and a son and daughter, Laurie Ann and Myron, both of 202 N. 8th St., North Ocean City, Md.

Funeral expenses were $2,387, a tombstone cost $500, and Dunbar will have unknown administrative costs in connection with her husband's estate, the suit claims. In addition, she will not have the benefit of her husband's future earnings, according to the suit.